From getting Ronaldo onside to bloodying the nose of Pep and Klopp, these are the key objectives he needs to nail in his first season…
Erik ten Hag's gigantic task of getting the Manchester United juggernaut back on the road is as big as it gets in a footballing sense, and one that proved too big for David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
With Manchester City and Liverpool setting a new standard and pulling further away from the chasing pack, a Premier League title challenge is beyond them, so what will success look like in Ten Hag’s first year in charge?
GOAL has had a look at seven areas that will define the Dutchman's first season at the helm.
(C)Getty ImagesHandling Ronaldo
Ronaldo is absolutely pivotal to United’s hopes.
He has been labelled the problem and the cure – but the benefits of a fully firing Ronaldo outweigh the negatives.
He proved once again last season that he remains a devastating centre forward with 24 goals in all competitions. And after United had to watch on as targets Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez joined City and Liverpool, they will have to rely on their veteran striker to provide the bulk of their firepower.
But it will be about Ten Hag finding a way to fit the Portuguese into his system while accepting that he will not press in the manner of modern forwards.
United will have to rely on other players picking up the slack in the knowledge that Ronaldo will deliver in front of goal.
It is a delicate balancing act – and one that could be absolutely critical to Ten Hag’s first season.
AdvertisementGettyRevitalise Rashford and Sancho
Jadon Sancho endured an underwhelming start to life at United – going from a key member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad to a major doubt for the World Cup.
He has it all to do to make Qatar – even after FIFA extended the squad lists to 26 players. But his priority is to kick start his United career.
Sancho was supposed to be the iconic winger United fans have been crying out for since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2009. He could still be that – and it was hardly ideal for him to see the manager who signed him get the sack a few months later.
He had some of his brighter moments under Ralf Rangnick and Ten Hag will need to build on that.
Marcus Rashford is another who needs some love from the new manager.
He is also fighting for his World Cup place and wants Ten Hag to let him establish himself on the left of attack.
He is hopeful he will finally get the sort of man-management and coaching he has lacked since bursting onto the scene six years ago.
If Ten Hag can get the best out of Rashford and Sancho, it would breathe new life into United’s attack.
GettyChampions League qualification
The absolute minimum requirement in his first season is to get United back to the top table of European football.
They have gone from being a club that would qualify for the Champions League on muscle memory alone, to one that has become all too used to missing out.
The problem for Ten Hag is that the battle for the top four maybe at its most fierce this season, with a rejuvenated Tottenham under Antonio Conte, Arsenal making strides and Chelsea a regular fixture.
Throw in West Ham – and maybe even a newly-monied Newcastle and United have a fight on their hands.
It would be hard to make any claim that the season was a success if United miss out on the Champions League for a second year in succession.
GettyA trophy… any trophy
It is five years since United last picked up some silverware. Five long years of false dawns and empty promises, reboots and reshuffles.
When Mourinho led them to the double of the Carabao Cup and Europa League in 2017, it felt like the good times were set to return.
He guided them to second place the following season and the FA Cup final.
In the meantime United have had to watch on as City and Liverpool have dominated and set new standards.
It has been painful viewing – and while Solskjaer came within a penalty shoot-out of delivering the Europa League, United have been nowhere near close enough to lifting major honours on a regular basis.
Ten Hag is used to picking up silverware – winning three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups in his time at Ajax.
He would join a select group of United managers if he can deliver any trophy at Old Trafford.